Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/252

 201: THE SIiniNE OF ST. ALBAX. elaborately traceiied and groined inside, and in front have delicately cu;>pod and sub-cuspcd arches. Above the arches are crocketed pediments, the tijmpana of those at the sides being decorated with beautifully-carved natural foliage, whilst the larger end ti/mpaiui contain subjects — at the west the decapitation of St. Alban, and on the east the scourging of Aniphibahis. There have been seated figures in the spandrels between the pediments. One of these is missing on the south, and is, except the buttresses, the only impor- tant loss on that side ; the remaining two represent kings, that in the middle holding a model of a church, and the other holding a lance. There is a third king at the west end in the spandrel between the sub-arches, and he, like the fir.^t mentioned, holds a model of a church. It is not quite clear whom these represent ; one of them must be Oila, but no other kings appear to have been benefactors to such an extent as to justify their being i-cprcsented as founders. Only one of the three figures, which have been in the spandrels on the north side, has been found ; it represents a bishop or abbot in eucharistic vestments. The half- spandrels next the corners of the shrine contain censing angels, all eight of which have been found. A si)lendidly carved cornice runs round the shrine above the ])ediments, the hnials of which form jiart of it. And above the cornice the structure is roofed wiili tiiick slabs of marble, the edges of which are worked so as to form a cresting round the whole. This topmost member is not part of the recent tind, but has been lying in the church for some years, and is said at one time to have foiined part of the pavement. The inscription which Dr. Nicholson ])laced vn the site of the shrine was cut on a ])ortion of it. islanding on spurs of the phnth, opjxtsite the pi'incipal divisions and at the angh.'s, there have liecn detached but- tresses, connected with the main .sliuctur<' by transoms at the height of the springing of the niche-heads, .-ind by half- arches butting against the cornice, the enrichment of which they penetrate. Of these buttresses, fourteen in number, veiy little has been recovered. Their general lorm can be made out from tiie spui-s, ujion which they .sLooil, anil from the connecting arches an<l transoms, of which latd'r three complete exanijiles have bi'en found, giving ni^t only their own form but tiiat oi" the shafts above and below them. Of the